CVE-2012-3377 in VLC Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Ogg_DecodePacket function in the OGG demuxer (modules/demux/ogg.c) in VideoLAN VLC media player before 2.0.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted OGG file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3377 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the OGG demuxer component of VideoLAN VLC media player version 2.0.1 and earlier. This flaw exists in the Ogg_DecodePacket function located in modules/demux/ogg.c, making it a significant security concern for users of the popular media player. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management when processing specially crafted OGG multimedia files, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's memory handling mechanisms. The flaw specifically targets the heap memory allocation process during packet decoding operations, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of OGG file structures to trigger improper memory handling within VLC's demuxer module. When the Ogg_DecodePacket function processes malformed OGG packets, it fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data before attempting to allocate or copy memory segments. This lack of proper input sanitization creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent heap memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow or causing abrupt application termination. The vulnerability manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified under CWE-121, indicating heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and input validation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate media file processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3377 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, representing a severe security risk for affected systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could cause the VLC media player to crash and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. This capability significantly increases the attack surface, as VLC is widely used across multiple platforms and operating systems, making the vulnerability applicable to various environments including desktop, mobile, and server deployments. The remote nature of the attack means that users need only to open or play a maliciously crafted OGG file to be vulnerable, without requiring any special user interaction beyond normal media playback operations. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of VLC media player installations to version 2.0.2 or later, where the heap overflow has been addressed through improved input validation and memory management. System administrators should prioritize updating all VLC installations across their networks, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted media content. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based filtering to prevent playback of suspicious OGG files, deploying application whitelisting policies to restrict VLC execution, and monitoring for unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing media player vulnerabilities. The fix implemented in VLC 2.0.2 includes enhanced bounds checking and memory allocation validation within the Ogg demuxer module, directly addressing the root cause of the heap overflow condition. Security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected VLC versions and ensure comprehensive patch management across all endpoints.